19th World Children’s Haiku Contest 2025-2026
About the Contest
The first Haiku Contest was organised by the JAL Foundation in 1990 and has been held every two years since then. Japan Airlines, with support and assistance from The Japan Society, is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Contest.
Entries should be submitted to The Japan Society by Saturday 26 February 2026.
Rules and Entry Guidelines
Applications
- One entry per child (either typed or handwritten) on the theme of "Sound".
- Applicants must be the age of 15 and under as of 28 February 2026.
- The haiku must be accompanied by hand-drawn or hand-crafted artwork on the same page, using A4-sized paper (21cm x 29.7cm) or letter sized paper (8.5in. x 11in.).
- Glue the application form on the back of the work.
- Please note that The Japan Society can only receive entries from applicants based in the UK.
Composition
- Any form of artwork (except photographs or digital images) can be submitted.
- Every entry must be the original and unpublished work of the child themself. Assistance by others (parents, other adults, siblings, or other children) is prohibited.
- The haiku must be presented in three short lines.
- All rights (for compositions and artwork) will be reserved by JAL Foundation.
Contest Results
- Contest results will be announced on the JAL Foundation and The Japan Society websites in July 2026.
- Grand Prize Winners will also be automatically entered for the chance to win a Special Commendation Prize, of which three entries will be selected as outstanding works and receive special certificates and prizes. The results of this will be announced in August 2026.
How to enter
Group & School Entries
Entries from the same school may be parcelled together for submission. Each entry must have an application form glued to the back with the applicant's name and age filled in (the other fields are not mandatory for school entries). The parcel must also include the United Kingdom Application Form for Schools.
Individual Entries
Please complete and attach the application form to the back of all entries. The applicant’s name, age and contact details must be clearly marked on the reverse. Please note that the Japan Society can only receive entries from applicants based in the UK.
School, group and individual entries should all be sent to:
Haiku Contest
The Japan Society
13/14 Cornwall Terrace
London NW1 4QP
Haiku Tips
Haiku are short poems split over three lines and usually contain a seasonal word. Did you know that haiku don’t have to be 7-5-7 syllables in English? For more tips on writing great haiku, download the Beyond 5-7-5 booklet and check out our short film How to Haiku.
You can also read the haiku from the winners and runners-up of the 18th World Children’s Haiku contest 2023-2024 on the theme 'Family' for inspiration.
Contact Us
For more information on the JAL Foundation or to enter the Haiku Contest from outside the UK, please visit the JAL Foundation website.
If you have any questions regarding the competition in the UK please contact the Japan Society Education Team on education@japansociety.org.uk